Mountain rescuers locate five disoriented hikers at night in Torrent de Mortitx

Night in the Tramuntana: Five hikers go missing — mountain rescuers find them

It's one of those evenings when the mountains look different: deeper shadows, a light breeze, and the trails seem to have a mind of their own. On Sunday, around 21:20, a relative alerted emergency services — five hikers had not returned to the car at the arranged time. Soon after, teams from the Guardia Civil and the GREIM mountain rescue set out for the Torrent de Mortitx area, in the Escorca district.

The search in the dark

Searchlights, two off-road vehicles, and a few experienced voices that radio in rather than shout: this is how the nighttime operation looked. The missing people, two men and three women in retirement age—the authorities give the age range as 64 to 71—had apparently lost their bearings and wandered in rugged terrain. In such situations every hour counts; the Serra de Tramuntana cools quickly after sunset and the trails become slippery.

After about four hours of targeted searching, responders shortly after midnight reached the group near the starting point of their tour. The relief was audible: quiet words, a few gruff laughs, then the collective exhale. The hikers showed clear signs of dehydration — dry skin, slowed movements — otherwise no serious injuries.

Escort back and a few practical tips

The officers accompanied the hikers back to the parking lot, where an ambulance waited for a check. A quick catch-your-breath, some water, and a follow-up—to what extent? We should say "to assess any aftereffects" – the usual after such a night. No one needed hospital admission, according to the Guardia Civil, but the lesson remains: a phone with a full battery, enough water, a headlamp, and telling someone where you are going are not luxuries but safety measures.

Some locals who watched the scene from the bar in Escorca dryly commented: “People underestimate the Tramuntana a bit.” They are right. We may not have a high mountain here, but there are narrow gorges and sudden weather changes—and in the evening even familiar paths feel different.

The Guardia Civil urges visitors: share plans, stay on marked paths, and don't take risky shortcuts after dark. For the five French, the trip ended safely. A small scare, a cold night, lots of water, and a story you might tell later over an espresso—so long as you don't forget to pack the headlamp when you tell it.